Combination washer dryer with forced air drying system



1963 J. BOCHAN 3,106,832

COMBINATION WASHER DRYER WITH FORCED AIR DRYING SYSTEM Filed 001;- 29, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 n H U INVENTOR. J'OHN BOCHAN WWW H \S ATTORNEY Oct. 15, 1963 J. BOCHAN 3,106,832

COMBINATION WASHER DRY-ER WITH FORCED AIR DRYING SYSTEM Filed 001;- 29, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 as L 27 3Q, 35' 30 SS--- 2e 2% E /J: n 50 G E, a a 75 a 1/ E r U S3 fl- IE; QQS O 2.4- 25 6 Q 33 INVENTOR.

J'OHN BOC HAN F'IG.2 BY WWW ms ATTORNEY J. BOCHAN 3,106,832

COMBINATION WASHER DRYER WITH FORCED AIR DRYING SYSTEM Oct. 15, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 29. 1962 PIC-3.3

A j m f w M m 6 w 5 a Y B G 5 6 4 w G a. m a m. m m s 0 GA 5 4% a 9 F m I b w Sv v r-us ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,106,332 GQMBENATEON WASHER DRYER WETH FURCED AER DRYHNG SYSTEM .lohn Bochan, Louisville, Ky, assignor to General Electric (Zompany, a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 29, 1962, Ser. No. 233,692 9 Claims. (Cl. 68-20) This invention relates to combination washer-dryers for washing and drying clothes, and more particularly to such machines of the type wherein the air used during heat drying operations is drawn through the chamber from one opening to another.

One advantageous form of a combination machine which is marketed for home usage provides a container in which clothes are tumbled and through which a stream of air is caused to enter through one opening and then leave through another. The stream of air, preferably heated in advance, passes over the clothes so as to remove any moisture which has been vaporized out of the clothes.

The more recent commercially available structures of this type provide the blower for creating the air stream on the downstream side of the clothes container in order to minimize the collecting of lint (created by the usual tumbling action imparted to the clothes) on the various operating parts of the machine. The downstream position of the blower does this by causing the clothes container to be under a slight vacuum, so that any leakage between the clothes container and other parts of the machine causes air to pass into the container. This is directly opposite to the result reached where the air moving equipment pushes the air into the clothes container, that is, it is upstream of the clothes container: the pressure in the clothes container is then slightly higher than atmospheric and any leakage of air is from the container out toward the other parts of the machine.

In such more recent machines, it is important that the stream of air which is provided during drying be prevented from passing through the clothes receptacle during washing operations. Otherwise, there would be a tendency to draw suds through the air exhaust system. A further important function which needs to be provided in such machines is the removal of lint from the air stream after it has passed over the clothes being tumbled in the container, and preferably prior to its passage through the blower itself.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide, in a combination washer-dryer having a blower downstream of the clothes container, a structure operated by the blower for sealing the clothes receptacle from the blower during washing operations and for providing flow of air during drying operations.

It is a further more specific object of my invention to provide this eifect by a rotating liquid seal created by a member secured to the blower shaft.

Yet a further specific object of my invention is the provision of such a structure wherein a relatively large amount of water is used as a rotating seal during washing operations, and a relatively small amount of water is used during drying operations so as to permit passage of air while tending to catch lint drawn along with the air.

In carrying out my invention in one form thereof, 1 provide a combination washer-dryer in which a clothes receptacle has first and second openings so as to provide an air inlet and an air outlet. Means are provided for washing fabrics in the receptacle, and heating means are provided for evaporating moisture from dampfabrics within the receptacle. A centrifugal blower is provided with an inlet formed generally on its axis of rotation, and with an outlet. A cylindrical chamber, connected to and Patented Get. 1 5, l 963 "ice aligned with the blower inlet, has an inlet opening which is also substantially aligned with the blower inlet and which is connected to the second clothes receptacle opening. An impeller member is positioned in the cylindrical chamber between the inlet opening and the blower inlet, and is secured on the blower shaft so as to rotate therewith. The center portion of the impeller member is imperforate, with a radius at least equal to the maximum distance the inlet opening extends from the axis of rotation; impeller blades extend outwardly from that center portion. When liquid is introduced to the cylindrical chamber during rotation of the impeller, it causes formation of a rotating liquid seal between the inlet opening and the blower inlet so that, in effect, the clothes receptacle is completely cut off from the blower.

The cylindrical chamber is further formed so that during both rotation and non-rotation of the impeller member liquid drains from the inlet opening rather than through the blower inlet. As a result of this, sufiicient liquid drains out during non-rotation to prevent formation of the liquid seal if no additional water is introduced during a subsequent rotation. However, there is, preferably, sufiicient liquid left so that lint is caught in the remaining liquid during operation of the blower in a drying operation. Thus, the structure performs two functions: with a relatively large amount of liquid during washing it acts as a seal, and with a relatively small amount of liquid during drying it acts as a lint trap.

The subject matter which forms my invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the coneluding portion of this specification. The invention itself, however, both as to organization and method of operation together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings,

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and partly in section, of a combination washerdryer which incorporates my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a rear view of the machine of FIGURE 1, with the rear panel removed and partially in section in order to illustrate details;

'FIGURE 3 is a view along line 33 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a schema-tic electrical diagram illustrating a simplified electrical control circuit for the machine of FIGURES 1 and 2.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and '2, I have shown my invention applied to a domestic laundry machine 1 comprising a combination washer and dryer. Machine --1 in cludes a cabinet 2 for enclosing the components of the machine, the cabinet including a separate top portion 3 and being mounted on a supporting structure 4. Access to the machine for loading and unloading of clothes is provided by a hinged door 5 disposed in the front wall 6 of the cabinet. A backsplasher or control panel 7 mounted at the back of the top surface 3 serves as a mounting means for suitable operator controls for the machine, such as those shown at 8.

Machine 1 is of the type which includes a clothes basket rotatable about a non-vertical axis; specifically, it includes a cylindrical basket 9 disposed for rotation about a generally horizontal axis. The peripheral wall 10 of basket '9 is provided with a substantial number of spaced perforations M, and with a number of inwardly extending vanes, such as that shown at l2, which help to tumble the clothes in the basket when it rotates at an appropriate speed.

Basket 9 is mounted within an imper-forate tube structure 13 which encloses it on all sides. The basket is rotatably supported from the tub structure by a horizontally extending shaft 14 mounted in an elongated hearing 15 hung between the two vertically separated rear wall sections 16 and 17 of the tub structure. Shaft L 5, as well as supporting the basket, also serves as the means for turning it during operation of the machine. The tub and basket are provided respectively with openings 18 and 19 in the front walls thereof, theopenings being aligned with the door opening in the front wall 6 of cabinet 2 so that clothes may be placed into or removed from the basket when door 5 is opened. The door 5 seals against a gasket 26 around the tub opening 18 to close off the tub completely during operation of the machine.

Tub 13 is supported from base 4- by means of a plurality of brackets or arms 21 (FIGURE 2) which are mounted on an upstanding plate 2.2 fixedly attached to the base 4. Four of these arms 21 may be provided, two of them on each side of the tub. Although arms 21 can be secured directly to the wall of the tub 13, I prefer to attach them, as shown, by means of suitable brackets 23. With tub 13 supported in the manner shown, it vibrates sideways in a plane parallel to the front of the machine if the basket 9 should be unbalaneed during high speed rotation thereof; however, for vibrations in the front to rear direction and in the vertical direction, the arms 21 are not at all flexible and they prevent substantially any vibration in those directions.

Referring now particularly to FIGURE 2, during operation of the machine the basket 9 is driven from an eiectric motor 24. The drive from the motor to the basket includes a pulley 25 secured to the motor shaft so as to rotate therewith and over which passes a belt 26. Belt 26 drives an adjustable sheave assembly 27 of the type which is well known for use in achieving variable output speeds from a constant input speed source. The adjustable sheave assembly in turn operates a belt 28 to cause rotation of a pair of pulleys 29 and 3t} secured to each other so as to be rotatable together. The rotation of pulley 3t) is passed on to a large driving pulley 31 by a belt 32, pulley 31 being rigidly secured on the end of basket shaft 14.

In this manner, motor 24' may be driven at a constant speed and, through the adjustable sheave assembly 27, the speed imparted to pulley 31 of basket 9 may be varied so as to provide an appropriate range of speeds for the basket. For instance, for tumbling purposes during the cleansing and rinsing operations, and also during the heat drying operation, a speed of approximately 47 rpm. may be provided to the basket, while a centrifuging speed of several hundred rpm. may be provided to the basket for effecting centrifugal extraction of liquid from the clothes prior to the heat drying operation.

When the sheave assembly 27 is in the position shown, it provides tumbling speed. However, when it is pulled over to the right as viewed in FIGURE 2 it provides the higher speed. The assembly is biased to provide the lower of the two speeds by means of a spring 33. The action of this spring may be overcome by means of a small synchronous motor (shown only schematically by the numeral 34 in FIGURE 4) which, through a chain 35 and rigid member 36 pulls the sheave assembly 27 over to the right against the action of the spring. Thus, when motor 34 is not energized, a low speed rotation is provided to the basket 9, and when gear motor assembly 34 is energized the high speed rotation is provided. The operation of the variable speed drive briefly described above does not form any part of the present invention, and is set forth merely to provide a substantially complete description of an operative machine. A complete detailed description of such a drive is provided, for instance, in Patent 2,950,613, issued on August 30, i960, to John Bochan, and assigned to the General Electric Company, asignee of the prcscnt invention.

In order to admit water to the machine, connections 37 and are provided through which hot and cold water may be supplied to the machine for washing operations. A valve controlled by a solenoid 39 admits hot water to the machine, and a valve controlled by an opposed solenoid 4f} admits cold water to the machine. The hot and cold Water valves under the control of solenoids 39 and 4t) discharge to a common outlet 41 which leads through a suitable air gap (not shown) to a conduit 42 having an outlet 43 into a cylindrical chamher 4%. An opening is provided in one of the end walls of the cylindrical chamber 44 so that when water fills the chamber up to the level of the bottom edge of opening 45, it will overflow and then pass through duct 45 to opening 47 formed in the top wall of tub 13. In this manner the water may flow into the tub so as to fill it as long as the water is flowing.

A pressure actuated sensing device or water level control 5-3 may be provided to control both solenoids and 4%} so as to provide the proper Water level in the machine during the washing operation. Sensing device as may be connected to the interior of the tub 13 by a suitable conduit 49 which connects with the tub adjacent the bottom thereof at 59 as shown.

The wash and rinse water used during washing operations may be discharged from the machine through a sump 51 formed at the bottom of the tub. A suitable discharge hose 52 leads from the sump to a pump 53 which may be attached directly to the motor 24 so as to be continuously driven thereby and which in turn discharges through a conduit 54 to a valve 55 which is suitably controlled by a solenoid schematically shown at 56 in FIGURE 4. When solenoid 56 is energized the valve 55 is closed, and when the solenoid is not energized valve 55 is open. In other words, for Water to be retained in tub 13 the solenoid must be energized to close valve 55 so that the continuous operation of the pump will not be effective to drain the tub. It will be understood that from valve 55 a connection is made to a suitable drain (not shown).

Machine 1 is designed to provide a heat drying operation, that is, to effect complete drying of the clothes after they have been washed and a substantial amount of liquid has first been extracted from them by centrifuging of the basket 9. In the conventional manner. the heat drying operation is effected by providing a source of heat to cause vaporization of the moisture out of the clothes in basket 9. Air moving means causes air to flow through the tub from atmosphere so as to pick up the moisture vaporized from the clothes, and then carry this moisture out to atmosphere again. In order to heat the air being drawn into tub 13, I provide a heating assembly 57 which is supported in a passage 58 formed by a metal housing member 59 arranged to cooperate with the top of the tub so as to form the passage 58. Air is caused to enter passage 58 at its inlet end 60, it being understood that the inlet end 60 communicates with the remainder of the interior of cabinet 2, and that ambient or atmospheric air is permitted to enter the cabinet 2 through any suitable openings provided in the cabinet. For instance, such an opening is shown by the numeral 61 at the bottom of front panel 6 adjacent the base 4.

After the air passes forward from inlet 60 over heater 57, it passes into a substantially downwardly extending passageway 62 formed in the same manner as passageway 58 by a rigid sheet metal member 63 cooperating with a portion of tub 13 so as to form the conduit 62. Preferably, there is provided a depending closure flap member or damper 64- which is suspended from its top portion 65 and hangs downwardly by gravity against protruding part 65 of the tub front so as to form a closure between conduit portions 58 and 62.

ateseas Conduit portion 62 terminates in an opening arrangement 67 communicating with the front of tub 13. During washing operations, it is possible, where too much soap or detergent has been provided in the machine, that suds may back up through openings '67. In the event this occurs, the suds are stopped by the damper mem er 64 from passing into contact with the heater 57 and from passing through conduit portion 58 into contact with other operating elements of the machine. Thus, the damper 64 serves as a safety measure for preventing suds from passing into portions of the machine where they might do harm. However, when a pressure differential is created, as will be explained, between the upstream and downstream sides of damper 64-, the damper is light enough (for instance, it may be made of very thin aluminum sheet) that it moves open by the air pressure differential; air may then flow from conduit portion 58 into conduit portion 62. and out through openings 67 into the tub 13. In this manner, air may pass over the heater 57 to be heated, and then pass into the tub 13.

The position of openings 67 causes the air to enter the interior of the clothes basket 9 so that the clothes tumbling in the basket are sure of entering into intimate contact with the flow of air. Thus, the warm air performs both the function of heating the clothes to evaporate moisture therefrom, and the function of carrying off the moisture so evaporated. Tub 13 is provided with the outlet opening 47 which connects with the interior of duct assembly 46 leading to opening 45.

A blower 68 of the centrifugal type is positioned within a housing 69. Housing 6% is secured to member 70 so as to form, together therewith, the cylindrical chamber 44. Member 70, in turn, is secured to the duct structure 46 supported on tub 13, so that in effect housing 6% for the impeller 68 is supported on the tub. A bearing structure 71 is formed in housing 69 so :as to support a shaft 72 rigidly secured to impeller 68.

At the right end of shaft 72, as viewed in FIGURE 1, there is provided a pulley 73 (FIGURE 2) over which passes a belt 74 driven by a suitable pulley 75 connected on the end of the motor shaft. By means of this structure, the impeller 68 may be driven continuously, whenever motor 24 is operated, at a suitable high speed such as, for instance, approximately 2,000 rpm.

Housing s9 is formed with a central inlet opening 76, as is conventional with centrifugal impellers. As best seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, a tangential discharge conduit 77 is provided leading to a duct 78 which may be disposed so as to lead the air in any suitable Way from the machine or for condensation of moisture out of the air and re-use, either one being quite conventional.

Thus, when impeller 63 is rotated, it causes air to be drawn in through opening 76 and to be discharged through conduit 77 and conduit 73, the air movement being caused by rotation of blower 68. When the blower rotates, air is drawn in through inlet 61, and then through conduit portions 58 and 62 into the clothes receptacle through opening 67. Then, through openings 47 and 45 as connected by duct 46, the air passes through the chamber 4-4 to the blower.

Within chamber 44, connected at the end of the same shaft 72 which is used to operate the impeller 68, there is an additional impeller member 79 which, as best shown in FIGURE 3, has a substantially imperforate central portion 8% and a number of blades 81 extending radially outwardly therefrom. The radius of the central-portion till is such that it is greater than either the maximum distance of opening 76 from the axis of rotation of shaft 72, or the maximum distance of opening 45 from the axis of rotation. This relationship can be particularly well seen in FIGURE 3, which shows both openings 45 and 76,

and the shaft 72 which, in effect, constitutes the axis of rotation. It will further be noted from FIGURE 3 that, with the axis of rotation generally horizontal as shown, the bottom of opening 45 is below the bottom of opening 76. This has the result that drainage of liquid out of chamber 4-4 will tend to be through opening 45 rather than through opening 76. This is a desirable result since, as can be seen by reference to FIGURE 1, liquid which drains from opening 45 will then pass down into the tub 13.

When the motor is operated so as to cause rotation of blower 68 and impeller 79, any Water contained in the cylindrical chamber 44 Will be rotated by the blades 81 at a speed which will increase until eventually the blades and the water are rotating at substantially the same speed. When this happens, and water is introduced into chamber 44 through conduit 4-2 as described, the thickness of the annulus of water being rotated by impeller member 79 will increase until eventually the water extends inwardly from the outer edge of the chamber -44 to the radially outermost part of opening 45. Since the imperforate center portion 3i of impeller 79 is larger than this dimension, there results a rotating liquid seal between the blower 63 and the tub 13. As a result, there will be no tendency for suds to be drawn into the blower; in fact, the liquid seal will positively prevent suds from passing through to the blower.

The provision of this seal is easily and automatically achieved because the tub is filled for washing purposes through the inlet -43. In other words, when water is to be provided in the tub for a washing operation, water is passed through conduit 42 and the inlet 43 to chamber During this time, the impeller 79 is rotating to form the liquid into an annulus. When the liquid rises to the lowermost point of opening 45, it will overflow through that opening, and then pass through duct 46 and opening 47 into tub 13 so as to fill the tub until the proper level is reached, as determined by liquid level sensing device 4%. Thus, the arrangement which brings the fill Water in through chamber 44 provides both the needed filling operation and a liquid seal to separate the blower from the interior of tub 13.

After a washing operation, and before a drying operation, motor 24 is shut oil to permit the impeller 79 to stop. As a result, the water in the chamber 44 flows out through opening 45 and duct 46 into the sump 51 at the bottom of tu-b 13. This passage of water from chamber 44 continues until there is left only a pool of water in the chamber whose surface is at the level of the bottom of opening 45. Then, when the motor starts to rotate impeller 79 again, this relatively small quantity of water will be rotated by the blades $1 until it is rotating around in an annulus as before. However, as compared to before, there is an appreciably smaller quantity of water in the chamber 44. As a result, the thickness of the annulus is only that shown by L2, as opposed to the thickness of the annulus in chamber 44 during washing. This thinner annulus does not prevent passage of air through the chamber 44 between the impeller blades 81. It will, however, tend to catch lint which is entrained with the air after it has contacted the tumbling clothes. This results from the fact that blades 81 will tend to whirl the air around before letting it pass through, and there will be a centrif ugal action tending to throw the lint outwardly where it is caught by the rotating liquid annulus at the outer edge of chamber 444-.

This condition continues until the drying operation is completed, at which time the motor may be stopped and the lint containing water in chamber 44 will again form a pool at the bottom of the chamber. easily be flushed out by introduction of water through conduit 42 at this time, or else at the beginning of a subsequent washing operation. It fact, it will readily occur that, if necessary, the machine may be designed to cause stopping of motor 24- -to cause flushing of the chamber 44 several times during a drying operation so as to prevent an excessive quantity of lint in the water.

It will thus be seen that the structure provides both a This may, of course,

7 liquid seal during washing operations and a hut trap during drying operations.

Referring now to the schematic circuit diagram of FF"- URE 4, there is shown a simplified control arrangement for the machine 1. The electrical system of the machine 1 is energized across a suitable source of power through conductors 82, 33 and 84-. Generally, in commercial practice, 220 volts are impressed across conductors S2 and 33, with 110 volts appearing between each of them and the neutral conductor 84. Directly connected to the neutral line 84 is a timer motor 35 of any conventional well known type.

Timer motor 85 forms a part of a conventional sequence control assembly wherein a number of cams A, B, C, D, E, F and G control a number of switches such as those indicated by the numerals, S6, 87, 38, 89, 9%, 91 and 92. When the timer motor 85 is energized, cams AG are rotated and cause the switches 86-92 to open and close in a suitable sequence so as to effect the desired operations within the machine.

In addition, it will be understood that in the conventional manner the manually operable dial member 23 positioned on the back-splasher of the machine may be used to control mwually the position of cams A-G and to advance them from an Oil position, which they normally attain at the end of a cycle, to a Start position when another cycle of operation is desired. Generally, when this is done, switch 92 closes so as to complete an energizing circuit for the timer motor 85 between conductor 84 and a conductor 93 which is connected to conductor 83. Thus, when the dial is released after having been put in the Start position, the operation of the timer motor will cause the cam switches to open and close in the predetermined sequence.

For illustrative purposes, the switches have been shown as controlling various components of the machine. Thus, switch 86 controls the solenoid 56, switch 87 controls a relay 94- which in turn controls a pair of normally-open switches 95 and 96 respectively located in lines 32 and 83 in series with heater 57. The energization of heater 57 is thus controlled by the timer through switch 87. Switch 88 controls the hot water solenoid 39 and switch 89 controls the cold water solenoid 49. Switch LO controls the energization of speed control gear motor assembly 34, and switch 91 controls the energization of the main motor When dial 3 is rotated into cycle starting position, cam G closes switch 92 to start the timer motor, cam F closes switch 91 to start the main motor and cause tumbling speed rotation of basket and high speed rotation of impeller 68, cam C closes to cause energization of solenoid 39 to introduce hot water into the machine, and cam A closes to cause energization of solenoid 56 and consequent retention of hot water in the machine despite the rotation of the pump 53.

As a result of these actions, the water starts to fill up the tub 13 until it reaches an appropriate level for washing, at which point the level switch 43 opens to de-energize solenoid 3/ and stop further introduction of water. At this time, a washing operation is provided. Since the water has been introduced through chamber 44, it has caused the rotating seal previously described to be provided so that the washing operation is provided with no danger that suds will pass into the blower assembly. If so desired, the closing of switch 86 by cam A may be delayed for a brief period after operation starts so as to permit the flushing out of the remains of the water which was within chamber 44 from a previous operation, unless this has been taken care of already as described above.

The timer causes a washing operation to be provided for a predetermined period, and then at the end of that predetermined period causes cam C to open switch 8% and cam A to open switch 86. This causes pump 53 to drain the machine without causing water to enter. At the end of a brief drain period, a first rinse may be provided by reelosing switch S5 and by causing cams C and D to close switches 83 and 89 so as to provide a warm water rinse into the machine. At the end of a suitable period, the water may be emptied out by re-opening of switch 86, and several such rinses, either hot, warm or cold, as desired, may be provided, followed by a draining out of the water in each case.

During all of this time, it will be recognized that the continued rotation of motor 24 will be keeping the liquid seal in the chamber 44. When it is desired to provide a high speed spin operation, cam E closes switch 90 to energize gear motor assembly 34 and pull the shifting sheave 27 over. This provides high speed rotation of the basket 10 so as to centrifuge liquid out of the clothes. After this, cams A, C, D, E, and F may be caused to open their associated switches open, with cam C being closed to energize relay 8 and cause energization of heater 57. Motor Z-ineed be de-energized for only a brief period, to permit water to drain out of chamber 44 until it reaches the level of the bottom of opening 45. Thus, dc-energization on the order of half a minute or a minute is sufficient.

after that motor 24 may be re-energizcd to cause tumbling of clothes within basket 10. The re-energization of the motor also causes once again rotation of blower es and impeller 79. At this point, there is not sufficient water in chamber 44 to cause it to cooperate with portion 89 of impeller 79 to form a liquid seal; therefore, air may pass through chamber 49 under the influence of impelier 68. As a result, the heated air Will pass into the basket to dry the clothes and will be exhausted from the machine through conduit 78. The rotary movement of impeller 79 will, however, have the beneficial efiect of tending to hurl relatively heavy particles, such as lint, which are carried along in the air stream, outwardly within chamber 44 so that they are caught by the thin annulus of water which still exists.

Thus, a drying operation may be provided, with air passing through the chamber 44 and with the rotating annulus of water within the chamber acting as a lint trap. This heating operation may be provided on a timed basis, for instance, for a sufiicient period to provide drying of the clothes. The timer motor may then cause opening of all of the switches 86 through 92 to de-energize all components of the machine and to terminate the operation.

It will be observed from the foregoing that the particular structure which I have provided causes a rotating seal to be furnished between the impeller 63 and the washing chamber during a washing operation, and causes the same structure to act as a lint trap during a drying operation.

While in accordance with the patent statutes I have described what at present is considered to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the ant that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and I therefore aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

l hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A combination washer-dryer comprising: a fabric receptacle having first and second openings formed therein to provide an air inlet and an air outlet; means for washfabrics in said receptacle; heating means for evaporating moisture from damp fabrics within said receptacle; air moving means comprising a centrifugal blower having an inlet formed substantially on its axis of rotation and an outlet; a cylindrical chamber connected to and aligned with said blower inlet, said cylindrical chamber having an inlet opening formed therein substantially aligned with said blower inlet and connected to said second fabric rceeptaele opening; an impeller member positioned in said cylindrical chamber between said inlet opening and said blower inlet, said impeller member being secured to said blower coaXially for rotation therewith, said impeller member having an imperforate center portion of a radius at least equal to the maximum distance said inlet opening extends from said axis and having impeller blades extending outwardly from said center portion, and means for introducing liquid to said cylindrical chamber whereby introduction of liquid during rotation of said impeller member causes [formation of a rotating liquid seal between said inlet opening and said blower inlet, said cylindrical chamber being formed so that during both rotation and non-rotation of said impeller member liquid drains from said inlet opening rather than through said blower inlet and so that sufiicient liq-uid drains out during non-rotation to prevent formation of said seal until additional liquid is introduced.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said axis of rotation is substantially horizontal.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said cylindrical chamber and said second opening are provided adjacent the upper portion of said fabric receptacle.

4. A combination washer-dryer comprising: a fabric receptacle having first and second openings formed therein to .provide an air inlet and an air outlet; means for washing fabrics in said receptacle; heating means for evaporating moisture from damp fabrics within said receptacle; air moving means comprising a centrifugal blower rotatable on a horizontal axis having an inlet vformed substantially on its axis of rotation and an outlet; a cylindrical chamber connected to and aligned with said blower inlet, said cylindrical chamber having an inlet opening formed therein generally aligned with said blower inlet and connected to said second fabric receptacle opening, said inlet opening of said cylindrical chamber having its bottom edge below the bottom of said blower inlet and having its bottom edge constituting its radially most distant part from the axisof rotation; an impeller member positioned in said cylindrical chamber between said inlet opening and said blower inlet, said impeller member being secured to said blower coaXially therewith for rotation therewith, said impeller member having an imperforate center portion of a radius at least equal to the distance from the axis of rotation to said bottom edge of said inlet opening and having impeller blades extending outwardly from said center portion, and means for introducing liquid to said cylindrical chamber whereby introduction of water during rotation of said impeller member causes formation of a rotating liquid seal between said inlet opening and said blower inlet, said inlet opening being formed relative to said chamber so that sufficient 10 liquid drains out during non-rotation of said impeller to prevent formation of said seal until additional liquid is introduced.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein said means for Washing fabrics includes water inlet means communieating with said cylindrical chamber.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein a rotatable clothes basket is provided within said receptacle, and common motor means are provided for providing tumbling speed rotation of said clothes basket and air moving speed rotation of said blower.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein, after liquid stops draining from said inlet opening, an amount of Water remains which is suflicient to constitute a lint trap when air is drawn through said chamber by said blower.

8. Gaseous fl-uid moving means comprising a centrifugal blower having an inlet form-ed substantially on its axis of rotation and an outlet; and means controlling the connection of said centrifugal blower to a source of gaseous fluid upstream thereof comprising a cylindrical chamber connected to and aligned with said blo'wer inlet, said cylindrical chamber having an inlet opening formed therein substantially aligned with said blower inlet and connected to said source of gaseous fluid; an impeller member positioned in said cylindrical chamber between said inlet opening and said blower openin said impeller member being secured to said blower coaxially therewith for rotation therewith, said impeller member having an imperforate center portion of a radius at least equal to the distance either said inlet opening or said blower inlet extends from said axis and having impeller blades extending outwardly from said center portion, and means for introducing liquid to said cylindrical chamber whereby introduction of liquid during rotation of said impeller member causes formation of a rotating liquid seal between said inlet opening and said blower inlet, said cylindrical chamber being formed so that suflicient liquid drains out during non-rotation of said impeller to prevent formation of said seal until additional liquid is introduced.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 8 wherein said blower and said impeller member are mounted to rotate on a horizontal axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A COMBINATION WASHER-DRYER COMPRISING: A FABRIC RECEPTACLE HAVING FIRST AND SECOND OPENINGS FORMED THEREIN TO PROVIDE AN AIR INLET AND AN AIR OUTLET; MEANS FOR WASHING FABRICS IN SAID RECEPTACLE; HEATING MEANS FOR EVAPORATING MOISTURE FROM DAMP FABRICS WITHIN SAID RECEPTACLE; AIR MOVING MEANS COMPRISING A CENTRIFUGAL BLOWER HAVING AN INLET FORMED SUBSTANTIALLY ON ITS AXIS OF ROTATION AND AN OUTLET; A CYLINDRICAL CHAMBER CONNECTED TO AND ALIGNED WITH SAID BLOWER INLET, SAID CYLINDRICAL CHAMBER HAVING AN INLET OPENING FORMED THEREIN SUBSTNTIALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID BLOWER INLET AND CONNECTED TO SAID SECOND FABRIC RECEPTACLE OPENING; AN IMPELLER MEMBER POSITIONED IN SAID CYLINDRICAL CHAMBER BETWEEN SAID INLET OPENING AND SAID BLOWER INLET, SAID IMPELLER MEMBER BEING SECURED TO SAID BLOWER COAXIALLY FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, SAID IMPELLER MEMBER HAVING AN IMPERFORATE CENTER PORTION OF A RADIUS AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE MAXIMUM DISTANCE SAID INLET OPENING EXTENDS FORM SAID AXIS AND HAVING IMPELLER BLADES EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID CENTER PORTION, AND MEANS FOR INTRODUCING LIQUID TO SAID CYLINDRICAL CHAMBER WHEREBY INTRODUCTION OF LIQUID DURING ROTATION OF SAID IMPELLER MEMBER CAUSES FORMATION OF A ROTATING LIQUID SEAL BETWEEN SAID INLET OPENING AND SAID BLOWER INLET, SAID CYLINDRICAL CHAMBER BEING FORMED SO THAT DURING BOTH ROTATION AND NON-ROTATION OF SAID IMPELLER MEMBER LIQUID DRAINS FROM SAID INLET OPENING RATHER THAN THROUGH SAID BLOWER INLET AND SO THAT SUFFICIENT LIQUID DRAINS OUT DURING NON-ROTATION TO PREVENT FORMATION OF SAID SEAL UNTIL ADDITIONAL LIQUID IS INTRODUCED.
 8. A GASEOUS FLUID MOVING MEANS COMPRISING A CENTRIFUGAL BLOWER HAVING AN INLET FORMED SUBSTANTIALLY ON ITS AXIS OF ROTATION AND AN OUTLET; AND MEANS CONTROLLING THE CONNECTION OF SAID CENTRIFUGAL BLOWER TO A SOURCE OF GASEOUS FLUID UPSTREAM THEREOF COMPRISING A CYLINDRICAL CHAMBER CONNECTED TO AND ALIGNED WITH SAID BLOWER INLET, SAID CYLINDRICAL CHAMBER HAVING AN INLET OPENING FORMED THEREIN SUBSTATIALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID BLOWER INLET AND CONNECTED TO SAID SOURCE OF GASEOUS FLUID; AN IMPELLER MEMBER POSITIONED IN SAID CYLINDRICAL CHAMBER BETWEEN SAID INLET OPENING AND SAID BLOWER OPENING, SAID IMPELLER MEMBER BEING SECURED TO SAID BLOWER COAXIALLY THEREWITH FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, SAID IMPELLER MEMBER HAVING AN IMPERFORATE CENTER PORTION OF A RADIUS AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE MAXIMUM DISTANCE EITHER SAID INLET OPENING OR SAID BLOWER INLET EXTENDS FROM SAID AXIS AND HAVING IMPELLER BLADES EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FORM SAID CENTER PORTION, AND MEANS FOR INTRODUCING LIQUID TO SAID CYLINDRICAL CHAMBER WHEREBY INTRODUCTION OF LIQUID DURING ROTATION OF SAID IMPELLER MEMBER CAUSES FORMATION OF A ROTATING LIQUID SEAL BETWEEN SAID INLET OPENING AND SAID BLOWER INLET, SAID CYLINDRICAL CHAMBER BEING FORMED SO THAT SUFFICIENT LIQUID DRAINS OUT DURING NON-ROTATION OF SAID IMPELLER TO PREVENT FORMATION OF SAID SEAL UNTIL ADDITIONAL LIQUID IS INTRODUCED. 